Texas Tech baseball gets boost by return of John McMillon

The Texas Tech baseball team has received some good news in that right-handed pitcher John McMillon has decided to return for his senior season.

“The Whammer” is coming back to Lubbock for one last ride. Flame-throwing righty John McMillon has announced his intention to return to the Texas Tech baseball team for his senior season after not being able to come to a contract agreement with the Detroit Tigers.

Taken in the 11th round with the No. 322 overall pick, McMillon could have begun his professional career after a strong junior season. Featuring a fastball that hit 100 mph at times, the Jasper, Texas native had a 3.40 ERA in 47.2 innings as one of Tim Tadlock’s top options out of the bullpen.

Coming to Tech as a two-way player who attempted to play the field and pitch, he has become one of the best relievers in the Big 12 after deciding to focus on his work on the mound. In 2018, he started 12 games while posting a 4.02 ERA in 17 appearances but this year, he worked only in relief.

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The rules for college baseball players are somewhat different than those governing football and basketball players. Unlike their classmates in the other sports, baseball players have the luxury of going through the draft process and even trying to negotiate a contract with an MLB team before making a final decision on whether to return to school.

Fortunately for the Red Raiders, McMillon did not find the Tigers’ offer enticing enough to lure him away from a program that will be seeking its third-consecutive College World Series appearance in 2020. And having one of their top arms back in the fold will be a huge boost to that pursuit.

This year, Tech had seven players drafted including four pitchers. Two of those pitchers, Taylor Floyd and Caleb Freeman, were key bullpen pieces who combined for 73.2 innings this year.

Floyd’s absence will be felt as he led the team with 57.1 innings out of the pen. Another one of Tadlock’s go-to pitchers in late-inning, high-leverage situations, the junior from Frisco, Texas had a 2.51 ERA in 2019. That’s why McMillon’s return is all the more important.

In Omaha, McMillon worked four innings allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out six. In 16 of his 24 appearances this spring, he had multiple strikeouts with six being the most, which he accomplished three times.

Now, he figures to be Tadlock’s primary reliever next season. He should combine with senior lefty Dane Haveman and sophomore righty Clayton Beeter to once again give the Red Raiders one of the better bullpens in the Big 12.

The starting rotation also appears to be in good shape despite losing top starter Caleb Kilian. The other two weekend starters, Bryce Bonnin and Micah Dallas, are set to return after both emerged as top-3 starters during the season.

Texas Tech has annually fielded one of the best lineups in the nation and that is not likely to change next season despite the losses of Josh Jung, Gabe Holt, and Cam Warren. And now that we know John McMillon will be back, the 2020 bullpen could also be one of the best in college baseball.